Friday, June 1, 2007

Chihuly at the Phipps

If you're sitting there thinking, "Boy, would I like to visit Pittsburgh", (happens to everyone, you know) now would be the time. It's the Year of Glass in Pittsburgh and it is fabulo! For starters, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is hosting an exhibition by world-reknowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. I just saw the show today. It is absolutely stunning. Below are some photos, but they really don't do it justice. Just to be standing there, taking in the entire room--the smells, the heat, the foliage, the butterflies. You have to be there. At night, the glass is illuminated with light.

This display will take your breath away. The room is planted completely in silver and blue-gray, surrounded by towering, blue glass sculptures.Steam rises from the tropical fish pond enveloping the glass balls.

The Fiori Sun reminded me of the giant, red quid from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Flitting around the scultpure were dozens of butterflies.

These look like colorful, Venus Flytraps. They were made using all 300 colors of glass available. Each scultpure is specked with color, which comes from rolling molten glass in smaller shards of colored glass during the blowing process.

About Habets Studio

Peggi Habets is an award-winning watercolor portrait artist. Her studio is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but she
works with clients around the country. Her life-long interest in art and a
15-year career in graphic design and illustration have all led to her
current career as a portrait painter.